The Tompolo Foundation yesterday donated relief materials worth N150M, one hundred and fifty million naira to victims affected by the recent flood in Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta States as part of measures to cushion the effects on the people.
The President & Chairman of Tompolo Foundation, High Chief Oweizide Government Ekpemupolo Alias Tompolo made the donation on behalf of the foundation.
The Executive Secretary of Tompolo Foundation, Dr Paul Bebenimibo handed over the relief items to representatives from the various States for onward distribution to the beneficiaries affected by the flood.
The items handed over include 2,400 bags of rice, 100 bags of beans, 200 bags of garri, 5000 tuber of yams, 200 gallons of palm oil, 600 gallons of groundnut oil and others and 2,000 cartons of indomie noodles.
Bebenimibo said that victims in Bomadi, Burutu and Patani who were affected by the flood are to benefit from the items.
He added that the Tompolo Foundation also extended his magnanimity to the victims in Isoko, Urhobo and Ndokwa Nations respectively.
Bebenimibo also said that victims affected by the flood in Ahaoda West and East in Rivers State were also beneficiaries of the relief items.
He noted that the victims in seven out of the eight Local Government Areas in Bayelsa State which were impacted by the flood are also to get 600 bags of rice and other items.
Bebenimibo expressed confidence that the relief items will be distributed to affected persons by their representatives without being diverted.
According to Bebenimibo, “We have good tidings from the President and Chairman of Tompolo Foundation. It’s no longer news that our country was greeted with massive flood and the impact was overwhelming. People have been in serious disarray in Bayelsa State, Rivers State and Delta STate. The Tompolo Foundation is established to care for the less privileged.
“We have been on this mission for about ten years. Specifically, sometime in 2012, a similar flood came. The foundation was organized to provide palliatives for the people. And this year we have come again to do our beat.
“I want to inform you that the President and Chairman of Tompolo foundation has approved palliative worth 150 million naira to distribute to the good people of Bayelsa State, Rivers State and Delta State. And that’s why I had earlier recognized people that are representing these States and we are here to hand over items to the beneficiaries so that they can move them to their destinations and distribute them to the affected people over there.”
The member representing the people of Constituency 4 in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, High Chief(Hon.) McDonald Igbadiwe on behalf of the Bayelsa State Governor thanked the Tompolo Foundation for the donation of items especially for coming to the aid of the victims affected by the flood in his domain. He said the Bayelsa State Governor had spent about one billion naira to care for the needs of the flood victims in the State.
Igbadiwe said the recent flood situation in the area is compared to that of Pakistan stressing that, it is unprecedented.
The Burutu Council Chairman, Hon. Godknows Angele in a chat with newsmen also thanked High Chief Oweizide Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo and the Tompolo Foundation for the donation of relief items to the flood victims in his area. He said, ”This is what we expected some leaders to emulate.”
He noted that the people in the area had suffered serious as a result of the flood which ravaged their communities saying, ”Today, Tompolo has come to the aid of the people.”
The Commissioner representing the Urhobo Ethnic Nationality in DESOPADEC Board, Chief Vincent Oyibode in a chat with newsmen also commended the Tompolo Foundation for the gesture saying, ”He is a good man.”
